Shining when starting a business at the age of 40

Ms. Tuong Van shares at aneducational event - Photo: KHENH

Currently a female leader in the education sector, she shares her secrets to balancing life, keeping her passion for her career, and her journey out of her comfort zone.

Memories, ups and downs, are all meaningful.

Winning two high prizes at the same time in the first TV Host contest of HTV Television 21 years ago, Tuong Van said that was a time she always cherished.

Her above awards did not fall from the sky, but were the result of her tireless participation in Union activities and movements from high school to university. She is a familiar MC of "Saturday Afternoon Music" - a program loved by many students - at the 4A yard of the Youth Cultural House.

"Everything takes time to perfect and mature," she confided. And Tuong Van also did not hesitate to talk about the period when she appeared on the cover of Muc Tim newspaper - thanks to being one of four Vietnamese students selected to participate in an international environmental summer camp in South Africa - when she was a 10th grade English major student at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai School, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

"Being in the spotlight at such an early age made me a bit complacent. And I paid the price, having to learn my first lessons in humility.

Although there were both sweet and difficult moments, I am still grateful for that period and would not change anything if I could go back. Without mistakes, it is difficult to know the value of gains and losses," she shared.

Don't be afraid to start over

With the advantage of English and dynamism, Tuong Van not only worked as an MC but also tried her hand at television production, event organization... "When I was a student, I studied and hosted programs, worked as a translator for Tre Publishing House, and worked as a freelance interpreter," she recalls.

She loves to travel, but at one point, she felt a strong passion for education. Putting aside the above tasks, Tuong Van and a friend researched to open a small kindergarten, gradually developing it into a chain of kindergartens, later expanding it into a multi-level system in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces.

She admitted that she "almost started from scratch" when entering the education field, but the more challenging the journey, the more her passion grew.

Witnessing the staff grow from a few dozen people to more than 500 people now, and everyone is very enthusiastic about their work - makes her emotional and proud when looking back.

"My greatest joy is being in contact with children. Asian culture often holds the view that children must learn from adults, but I find myself learning from them. Children give me positive energy through their pure and sincere hearts and minds," she said.

Women, AI and start-ups

With a busy work schedule, Tuong Van admits that there are times when she feels exhausted, depressed, and defeated...

"Luckily, I have a passion for cooking and close friends. That's why when I'm sad and exhausted, I cook a delicious meal, play some of my favorite songs, and chat with friends.

The most important thing is not to avoid the problem but to look straight at it and focus on finding a solution. I will also travel occasionally if I really need to relax," she shared her secret to balancing her mood.

Not afraid of failure, with the spirit of continuous learning and self-development, she learned about artificial intelligence and continued to start a business at the age of over 40.

"Working in the education sector for more than 10 years, I realize that this is an industry that requires long-term commitment, but the in-depth data system for monitoring is not clear.

Behind educational projects that have real social impact and effectiveness, in-depth research on data and analysis is needed to make recommendations and a roadmap for sustainable development," she analyzed.

According to the online educator, technology platforms have advanced greatly compared to before, but access to them in regions is still far away.

"My colleagues and I are still offering a free social marketing analytics package - using tools to track the content discussed by the parent community over a certain period of time on social networking sites or online channels (usually quite expensive for all schools in need).

We hope to provide recommendations and solutions for schools to connect more effectively with parents," said Tuong Van.

Warm and rational

Ms. Van always works very meticulously and has a vision and a high sense of responsibility. What impresses me is that she is the type of woman who is both practical and warm, eager to learn and corrects herself when she sees her mistakes. Even in the worst situations, she still sees the positive side and solves them thoroughly.

Master Nguyen Thuy Lien (co-founder of the Happy Home School model)

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rang-ngoi-khi-khoi-nghiep-o-tuoi-40-20250607093210001.htm